I don't think I can possibly convey how much of an adrenaline pumping experience the new Mission Mode is with mere words. It has to be experienced. The missions are unadulterated action and if that's all there were to the game, I'd still recommend it. Instead, you get the new difficulties, costumes, and Arcade Ninja Gaiden making this the realization of every fans' dreams. - Erik Brudvig

Ninja Gaiden has had a number of iterations to the point of almost being redundant. Still, there's no denying that this is one of the greatest action games of all time. If Devil May Cry 4 isn't doing it for you, do yourself a favor and give Ninja Gaiden Black a try. The game is a true test of willpower and amazingly deep. The main game will take anywhere from 12-20 hours to complete and the Mission mode will suck up even more of your time. Worth $15? Ninja Gaiden Black is still worth $30.

Ninja Gaiden Black runs smoothly, with only some minor framerate issues in some of the cut-scenes. What really matters is that the action is uninhibited by slowdown, which is the case. If you don't have a Ninja Gaiden completed save on your 360, then you will have to beat the game in order to unlock the Master Ninja mode. And Master Ninja mode is an awesome 50-mission test of your skills. The online ranking from the original Xbox has carried over, so you can still judge your skills against others. The only downer is that the original Ninja Gaiden emulations included with NG Black do not work on 360.

Ninja Gaiden Black isn't the kind of game you turn around and sell back. This one is a keeper. As such, it can be a tough find. It does go for under $15 at GameStop and EBay, if you can come across a copy.